Edgar Kennedy

Acting • Born 1890-04-25 – Died 1948-11-09

Acting1Monterey, California, USA

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Edgar Livingston Kennedy (April 26, 1890 – November 9, 1948) was an American comedic film character actor, known as "Slow Burn". A slow burn is an exasperated facial expression, performed very deliberately; Kennedy embellished this by rubbing his hand over his bald head and across his face, in an attempt to hold his temper. Kennedy is best known for a small role as a lemonade vendor in the Marx Brothers film Duck Soup, as well as the many Hal Roach films he appeared in. Kennedy became so identified with frustration that practically every studio hired him to play hotheads. He often played dumb cops, detectives, and even a prison warden; sometimes he was a grouchy moving man, truck driver, or blue-collar workman. His character usually lost his temper at least once. In Diplomaniacs, Kennedy presides over an international tribunal, where Wheeler & Woolsey want to do something about world peace. "Well, ya can't do anything about it here", yells Kennedy, "this is a peace conference!" Kennedy, established as the poster boy for frustration, even starred in an instructional film titled The Other Fellow, in which loudmouthed roadhog Edgar always vents his anger on other drivers (each one played by Kennedy as well), little realizing that, to them, he is "the other fellow." Perhaps his most unusual roles were as a puppeteer in the detective mystery The Falcon Strikes Back and as a philosophical bartender inspired to create exotic cocktails in Harold Lloyd's last film, The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947). He also played comical detectives opposite two titans of acting: John Barrymore in Twentieth Century (1934) and Rex Harrison in Unfaithfully Yours (1948); in the latter, he tells conductor Harrison that "Nobody handles Handel like you handle Handel." Kennedy died of throat cancer at the Motion Picture Hospital, San Fernando Valley on 9 November 1948. His body was interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, Los Angeles County, California.

Filmography

320 credits

Duck Soup

Movie • 1933

Street Vendor

It Happened Tomorrow

Movie • 1944

Insp. Mulrooney

The Ghosts

Movie • 1930

Kennedy

Blondie in Society

Movie • 1941

Dr. Glenn

Double Wedding

Movie • 1937

Spike

Cruel, Cruel Love

Movie • 1914

Butler

Dough and Dynamite

Movie • 1914

Striking Baker

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

Movie • 1947

Jake the Bartender

King Kelly of the U.S.A.

Movie • 1934

Happy Moran

Li'l Abner

Movie • 1940

Cornelius Cornpone

My Dream Is Yours

Movie • 1949

Uncle Charlie

Twentieth Century

Movie • 1934

Oscar McGonigle

A Star Is Born

Movie • 1937

Pop Randall

The Rural Third Degree

Movie • 1913

Cop

Caught in a Cabaret

Movie • 1914

Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)

The Trouble With Wives

Movie • 1925

Detective (as Edward Kennedy)

In Old California

Movie • 1942

Kegs McKeever

Air Raid Wardens

Movie • 1943

Joe Bledsoe

Hollywood Hotel

Movie • 1938

Callaghan

The Falcon Strikes Back

Movie • 1943

Smiley Dugan

The Our Gang Story

Movie • 1994

Officer (archive footage)

The Chinese Parrot

Movie • 1927

Maydorf

Mabel’s Awful Mistakes

Movie • 1913

It's a Wonderful World

Movie • 1939

Lieutenant Miller

Whose Baby?

Movie • 1917

Movie • 1928

All Parts

Movie • 1928

Off to Buffalo

Movie • 1929

Great Gobs!

Movie • 1929

2nd Sailor

Night Owls

Crook (uncredited)

Giggle Water

Movie • 1932

Edgar

The Penguin Pool Murder

Movie • 1932

Officer Donovan

Robin Hood of El Dorado

Movie • 1936

Sheriff Judd

Little Big Shot

Movie • 1935

Onderdonk

Son of the Border

Movie • 1933

Windy

When Comedy Was King

Movie • 1960

edited from 'A Pair of Tights' (archive footage)

Small Town Girl

Movie • 1936

Captain Mack

Little Orphan Annie

Movie • 1932

Daddy Warbucks

Fatty's Tintype Tangle

Movie • 1915

Edgar

Racing for Life

Movie • 1924

Tom Grady

Tillie and Gus

Movie • 1933

Judge

The Cowboy Millionaire

Movie • 1935

Willy 'Persimmon' Bates

True Confession

Movie • 1937

Darsey

Flirting with Danger

Movie • 1934

Jimmie Pierson

Three Men on a Horse

Movie • 1936

Harry, the Bartender

Making a Living

Movie • 1914

Wreck Bystander (uncredited)

Fatty Joins the Force

Movie • 1913

Jealous Cop

Mad Holiday

Movie • 1936

Donovan

The Girl from Monterrey

Movie • 1943

Doc Hogan, Fight Promoter

Leading Lizzie Astray

Movie • 1914

The Slicker's Chauffeur

The Marines Are Coming

Movie • 1934

Sgt. Buck Martin

Art in the Raw

Movie • 1933

Good Housewrecking

Movie • 1933

The Golden Princess

Movie • 1925

Gewilliker Hay

Love and Bullets

Movie • 1914

The Trouble Mender

The Sky Pirate

Movie • 1914

The Sky Pirate

Super-Sleuth

Movie • 1937

Police Lt. Garrison

Money Means Nothing

Movie • 1934

Herbert Green

A Blasted Event

Movie • 1934

Edgar

Thieves

Movie • 1930

The Late Lamented

Movie • 1917

Art Gallery Operator

A Merchant of Menace

Movie • 1933

Edgar

Algy on the Force

Movie • 1913

Cop

Hey! Hey! USA

Movie • 1938

Bugs Leary

Cosmo Jones, Crime Smasher

Movie • 1943

Police Chief Murphy

Fatty’s Plucky Pup

Movie • 1915

Shell Game Operator

Will Power

Movie • 1936

Edgar Kennedy

Dumb Daddies

Movie • 1928

The Cop

Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus

Movie • 1938

Arthur Bailey

Moan & Groan, Inc.

Movie • 1929

Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)

Who Killed Aunt Maggie?

Movie • 1940

Sheriff Gregory

Living on Velvet

Movie • 1935

Counterman

Something for Nothing

Movie • 1923

Ptomaine Tommy

The Other Fellow

Movie • 1937

Four Roles

Professional Sweetheart

Movie • 1933

Kelsey

He's a Honey

Movie • 1932

Tramp Trouble

Movie • 1937

Edgar

Remedy for Riches

Movie • 1940

George Browning

The Better 'Ole

Movie • 1926

Corporal Austin

We're Rich Again

Movie • 1934

Healy, Process Server

Now's the Time

Movie • 1932

The Little Girl Next Door

Movie • 1923

Hank Hall

Beaux and Errors

Movie • 1938

Edgar Kennedy

The Great Alaskan Mystery

Movie • 1944

Bosun Higgins

Dumb's the Word

Movie • 1937

Edgar Kennedy

Gridiron Flash

Movie • 1934

Officer Thurston

When's Your Birthday?

Movie • 1937

Mr. Basscombe

Wrong Direction

Movie • 1934

Edgar, Movie Director

The Silver Streak

Movie • 1934

O'Brien

When the Wind Blows

Movie • 1930

Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)

Woman Wanted

Movie • 1935

Sweeney

Charlie McCarthy, Detective

Movie • 1939

Inspector Dailey

There's One Born Every Minute

Movie • 1942

Mayor Moe Carson

The Bride Comes Home

Movie • 1935

Henry

Limousine Love

Movie • 1928

The Husband, Mr Glenders

Private Snuffy Smith

Movie • 1942

Sgt. Ed Cooper

Anchors Aweigh

Movie • 1945

Police Captain

The Gangsters

Movie • 1913

Henchman

The First Seven Years

Movie • 1930

Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)

The Speed Kings

Movie • 1913

Laughing Spectator

Peeping Pete

Movie • 1913

Movie • 1913

Cop

Mabel's New Hero

Movie • 1913

Cop

Mabel's Dramatic Career

Movie • 1913

Audience Member / Cop in Movie

Mother's Boy

Movie • 1913

Mug

A Quiet Little Wedding

Movie • 1913

Wedding Guest

A Ride for a Bride

Movie • 1913

Mustached Man

In the Clutches of the Gang

Movie • 1914

Cop

His Favorite Pastime

Movie • 1914

Tough Guy in Bar

Tango Tangles

Movie • 1914

Dance Hall Manager (uncredited)

Rebecca's Wedding Day

Movie • 1914

The Groom

A Flirt's Mistake

Movie • 1914

Rajah

A Bath House Beauty

Movie • 1914

Jealous Boyfriend

Scarlet River

Movie • 1933

Sam Gilroy

The Battling Fool

Movie • 1924

Dan O'Leary (as Ed Kennedy)

The Wrong Mr. Wright

Movie • 1927

Trayguard

The Great Vacuum Robbery

Movie • 1915

2nd Thief

The Black Doll

Movie • 1938

Sheriff Renick

A Pair of Tights

Movie • 1929

Marion's Boyfriend's Boss

Going Ga-Ga

Movie • 1929

Cop

Diplomaniacs

Movie • 1933

Chairman - Peace Conference

Trent's Last Case

Movie • 1929

Inspector Murch

Westward Passage

Movie • 1932

Elmer

Fatal Lady

Movie • 1936

Rudolf Hochstetter

Captain Tugboat Annie

Movie • 1945

Captain Bullwinkle

Yankee Doodle in Berlin

Movie • 1919

German Prison Guard (uncredited)

The Real McCoy

Movie • 1930

Cicero the Cop

Their First Execution

Movie • 1913

Dollar Dizzy

Movie • 1930

Quimby the Lawyer

Bangville Police

Detective

The Head Guy

Movie • 1930

Station Master Kennedy (uncredited)

Heat Lightning

Movie • 1934

Herbert - the Husband

Baby Daze

Movie • 1939

Edgar Kennedy

Rendezvous at Midnight

Movie • 1935

Mahoney

They Had to See Paris

Movie • 1929

Ed Eggers (uncredited)

Hurdy Gurdy

Movie • 1929

Officer Ed Kennedy

King for a Night

Movie • 1933

Cop

Dr. Christian Meets the Women

Movie • 1940

George Browning

Quiet Please!

Movie • 1933

Edgar Kennedy

Gasoloons

Movie • 1936

Edgar Kennedy

Shivering Shakespeare

Movie • 1930

Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)

Doctor's Orders

Movie • 1930

Mary's Father / Gertie's Uncle

Bigger and Better

Movie • 1930

Uncle Ed Sutton

Ladies Last

Movie • 1930

Man in Phone Booth

Looser Than Loose

Movie • 1930

Night Club Patron

Everything's on Ice

Movie • 1939

Joe Barton

Wall Street Blues

Movie • 1924

The Crook

Feed 'em and Weep

Movie • 1928

Mutiny in the County

Movie • 1940

Edgar Kennedy

Gangs Of The City

Movie • 1941

Biff

Kid Millions

Movie • 1934

Herman Wilson

The Big Squawk

Movie • 1929

Orchestra Leader

Stepping Out

Movie • 1929

Diner's Owner

Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers

Movie • 1915

Suitor

The Adventures of Daredevil Jack

Movie • 1920

Little Billy's Triumph

Movie • 1914

Angora Love

Movie • 1929

Landlord

Cross Fire

Movie • 1933

Ed Wimpy

Oh! What a Nurse!

Movie • 1926

Eric Johnson

Hold 'Em Jail

Movie • 1932

Warden Elmer Jones

The Gusher

Movie • 1913

Cop (uncredited)

My Old Dutch

Movie • 1926

Bill Sproat

Rough on Rents

Movie • 1942

Edgar Kennedy

$1,000 a Minute

Movie • 1935

Police Officer McCarthy

The Quarterback

Movie • 1940

Pops

Margie

Movie • 1940

Chauncey

Sandy Is a Lady

Movie • 1940

Officer Rafferty

It's Your Move

Movie • 1945

Edgar Kennedy

Hillbilly Blitzkrieg

Movie • 1942

Sgt. Homer Gatling

Unfaithfully Yours

Movie • 1948

Sweeney

Carnival Boat

Movie • 1932

Baldy

All Teed Up

Movie • 1930

Thelma's Father (uncredited)

Madame Q

Movie • 1929

Judge Kennedy

Dad's Day

Movie • 1929

Michael Kennedy

Quick Millions

Movie • 1931

Cop (uncredited)

High Gear

Movie • 1931

Cop

Fifty Million Husbands

Movie • 1930

Officer Kennedy

The Best of Laurel and Hardy

Movie • 1968

Officer Kennedy (archive footage)

An Apple in His Eye

Movie • 1941

Edgar Kennedy

Next Door Neighbors

Movie • 1931

Howard J. Green

Poisoned Ivory

Movie • 1934

Edgar Kennedy

Drafted in the Depot

Movie • 1940

Edgar Kennedy

Edgar Hamlet

Movie • 1935

Edgar

High and Dry

Movie • 1922

In Love at 40

Movie • 1935

Edgar Kennedy

Laugh It Off

Movie • 1939

Judge John J. McGuinnis

Murder on the Blackboard

Movie • 1934

Detective Donahue

Paths to Paradise

Movie • 1925

Detective (uncredited)

Variety Time

Movie • 1948

Edgar Kennedy (footage from 'I'll Build It Myself') (archive footage)

Hotter Than Hot

Movie • 1929

The Guide

Movie • 1921

An American Tourist

He Loved the Ladies

Movie • 1914

The Wife's Brother

All of Me

Movie • 1934

Guard (uncredited)

Puppets of Fate

Movie • 1921

Mike Reynolds

Hold Your Temper

Water Wagon Driver (uncredited)

'Curses!' They Remarked

Movie • 1914

Ethel's Former Boyfriend

'Taint Legal

Movie • 1940

Edgar

Girl Shock

Movie • 1930

Fiancee's Father

A Night at the Biltmore Bowl

Movie • 1935

Edgar Kennedy

Dummy Ache

Edgar

Scandal Street

Movie • 1938

Daniel Webster Smith

Crazy Feet

Movie • 1929

Policeman

Vocalizing

Movie • 1936

Edgar Kennedy

Fish Feathers

Movie • 1932

Edgar Kennedy

Brick-a-Brac

Movie • 1935

Edgar

A Trailer Tragedy

Movie • 1940

Edgar Kennedy

Bad Housekeeping

Movie • 1937

Edgar

A Clean Sweep

Movie • 1938

Edgar

His Luckless Love

Movie • 1915

The Maid's Boyfriend

A Scoundrel's Toll

Movie • 1916

Peter X. Bush - Streetcar Superintendent

Cooks and Crooks

Movie • 1942

Edgar

Duck Soup

Movie • 1942

Edgar

Help Wanted, Female

Movie • 1931

Welcome Danger

Movie • 1929

SFPD Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

Four Times Foiled

Movie • 1920

Hot Foot

Movie • 1943

Edgar

Crazy House

Movie • 1943

Judge

Bad Company

Movie • 1931

Buffington-Doorman

Going Crooked

Movie • 1926

Detective

Feather Your Nest

Movie • 1944

Edgar

Radio Rampage

Movie • 1944

Edgar

Across the Pacific

Movie • 1926

Cpl. Ryan

Sandy Gets Her Man

Movie • 1940

Fire Chief Galvin

Pardon My Stripes

Movie • 1942

Warden Bingham

Finger Prints

Movie • 1927

O.K. McDuff (as Ed Kennedy)

The Golden Age of Comedy

Movie • 1957

archive footage

Edgar & Goliath

Movie • 1937

Edgar

Maid to Order

Movie • 1939

Edgar

Kennedy the Great

Movie • 1939

Edgar Kennedy

What, No Cigarettes

Movie • 1945

Edgar Kennedy

Why Is a Plumber?

Movie • 1929

You Drive Me Crazy

Movie • 1945

Edgar

The Big Beef

Movie • 1945

Edgar Kennedy

Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day

Movie • 1915

The cafe waiter (uncredited)

The Gas Station

Movie • 1930

Detective

Motor Maniacs

Movie • 1946

Edgar Kennedy

Trouble or Nothing

Movie • 1946

Edgar

I'll Build It Myself

Movie • 1946

Edgar

Bombs!

Movie • 1916

Tony Peanutty - Italian Ward Leader

Little Accident

Movie • 1939

Paper Hanger

The Bowling Match

Movie • 1913

Bowling Alley Operator

Do or Diet

Movie • 1947

Edgar

An Incompetent Hero

Movie • 1914

Fatty's Neighbor

Zuzu, the Band Leader

Movie • 1913

Caesar - Zuzu's Rival

Brother Knows Best

Movie • 1948

Edgar Kennedy

Dig That Gold

Movie • 1948

Edgar Kennedy

Contest Crazy

Movie • 1948

Edgar

She Loved Him Plenty

Movie • 1918

What Fur

Movie • 1933

Edgar

The Wandering Two

Movie • 1923

Inferior Decorator

Movie • 1943

Edgar

The Stolen Triumph

Movie • 1916

Edwin Rowley, Jr.

All's Swell on the Ocean

Movie • 1924

The Night Message

Movie • 1924

Lem Beeman

The Gay Old Bird

Movie • 1927

Chauffeur

Laurel & Hardy: Year Two

Movie • 2024

(archive footage) (uncredited)

The People vs. Nancy Preston

Movie • 1925

Gloomy Gus

The Blue Streak

Movie • 1917

Skirts

Movie • 1921

Fight and Win

Movie • 1924

The Bride Wore Crutches

Movie • 1940

Police Captain McGuire

Never the Twins Shall Meet

Movie • 1932

Mr. Carp

Wedding Bills

Movie • 1927

Detective